Envelop.



E. WAGHTERMANN.

ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1909.

943,205. I Patented Dec.14,1909.

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UNITED STATS EDWARD WACI-ITERMANN, OF ALVARADO, CALIFORNIA.

ENVELOP.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD lVaoIrrnR- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alvarado, in the county of Alameda, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in safety envelops wherein provision is made for preventing surreptitious access thereto, and has for one of its objects to simplify and improve the construction and increase the efliciency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device of this character combinig a fastenig device with an envelop having weakening or frac turable portions adjacent to the fastening device whereby the separation of the parts of the fastening device will mutilate the envelop.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in an envelop having a plurality of overlapping portions foldable within the outer portions of the envelop, the inner members of the overlapping portions divided into two series, one of the series having the receiving member of a fastening device and the other ser'es of overlapping members having an insertible member of a fastening device, the overlapping portions of the envelop adjacent to the fastening devices having weakening punctures so that when the fastening devices are forcibly separated to open the envelop, the weakened portions will be torn loose and removed with the fastening devices.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim.

The improved device may be applied to envelope of various sizes and of various forms, but for the purpose of illustration an envelop similar to those in common use is shown and an envelop of special construction is likewise shown.

In the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a view of the blank from which an envelop is formed which presents the appear- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 7, 1909.

velop formed with Patented Dec. let, 1909. Serial No. 471,123.

I ance of an ordinary envelop when folded. I Fig. 2 1s a view of an envelop constructed from the blank shown in Fig. l partly folded. Fig. 8 is a view of an envelop con structed from the blank shown in Fig. 1 entirely closed. Fig. i is a section enlarged on the line 44: of Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail, enlarged, of the two parts of the fastening device separated.

The improved device comprises an ena body and a plurality of overlapping portions or flaps, the overlapping flaps arranged in two series with a plurality of weakening punctures in each series of flaps, a fastening device formed in two parts, a receiving member and an insertible member, the receiving member con tiguous to one set of said weakening punctures and the insertible member arranged adjacent to the other series of punctures, the fastening device members so arranged that when the envelop is closed they engage with each other and thus secure the envelop. By this arrangement when the envelop is opened the fastening device will be forcibly separated and will tear the weakening portions of the envelop away from the body portions of the flaps, thus revealing the fact that the envelop has been opened.

In Fig. l a blank is shown in which an envelop is adapted to be formed and comprises a body having end flaps l1-12 folded inwardly over the body portion along the lines 131et and overlapping at their inner ends, a back flap l5 foldable along the line 16 over the overlapping end flaps, a closure flap represented as a whole at 17 and foldable along the line 18, and likewise foldable along the oblique lines 19-20-2l to enable the outer portion of the closure flap to be folded inwardly upon itself to provide a plurality of overlapping portions as shown in Fig. 2, which shows this portion of the envelop partly folded.

The overlapping portions of the closure flap are preferably provided with apertures 22 which register when the flap is folded along the lines 192021. The portion of the closure flap which forms the inner leaf is provided with a plurality of weakening punctures represented at 23, and preferably surrounding the aperture 22 therein. The end flaps 1l12 and the back flap are each likewise provided with an aperture, these apertures represented at 24: and registering when the end flaps and back flaps are folded, as shown in Fig. 2. The back flap is provided with a plurality of weakening punctures 25, preferably surrounding the aperture 24: therein, as shown. The series of punctures 23 will be so located that when the closure flap is folded to bring its apertures in alinement, these alined apertures will likewise aline with the apertures 24 when the envelop is fully closed or folded, as shown in Fig. 3.

Attached to the overlapping end flaps and back flaps and projecting through the same is a receiving member of a fastening device, and attached to the overlapping portions of the closure flap 17 is an insertible member of a fastening device, the insertible member engaging with and locking within the receiving member when the envelop is closed, the receiving member being formed of yieldable metal, and the insertible member being likewise formed of metal and with an undercut or overhanging portion engaging with the yieldable portion of the receiving member, so that when the two parts are forcibly compressed together, they form an effectual lock to secure the envelop. By this arrangement it will be obvious that the envelop can be opened only by forcibly separating the fastening members, and this forcible separation will likewise fracture the weakening portion of the flaps, and thus mutilate the envelop so that the fact of its having been opened is clearly apparent, and if the opening is done by unauthorized persons this fact. will be revealed.

An approved construction of the fastening device is shown and comprises a receiving member formed with a base '26 having bendable projections 27 insertible through the portions of the envelop to which it is to be attached and bent inwardly to form an effectual fastening means. The base 26 is preferably annular in form and provided with an inwardly extending rim l-l having spaced clefts to form a plurality of yieldable converging tongues 28. The insertible portion of the fastening device comprises a tubular body 29 insertible through the portions of the envelop to which it is to be attached and clenched therein by rolling the body outwardly as represented at 30 by a suitable implement. The opposite end of the body 29 is formed with an overhanging portion 31 adapted to enter the portion tl of the receiving member and engaging beneath the resilient tongues 28. By this simple device it will be obvious that an effectual locking means is provided to firmly unite the members.

The overlapping flaps will preferably be provided with mucilage in the ordinary manner so that they may be secured thereby in addition to the securing means provided by the metal fastening devices, the mucilage being represented by the dotted configuration at d0. It will be noted that the metal fastening device is entirely concealed, but may be rendered inaccessible by employing mucilage between the parts of the envelop located adjacent to the fastening devices. The improved device is simple in construction, can be applied without materially increasing the expense of the envelop and operates effectually for the purposes described.

What is claimed, is:

A device of the class described comprising an annular channel shaped member having its inner wall of greater width than the outer wall and extending in advance of the same, said inner wall having a plurality of inwardly projecting resilient members converging toward the base of the channel shaped member and spaced therefrom, and a member having an annular flange and adapted to enter said annular member and to displace said resilient members and to engage beneath the free ends of the same, said last mentioned member being located wholly within the annular member, means for coupling the annular member to a flexible element, and means for coupling saidflanged member to a flexible element.

In testimony whereof, I my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD WAGHTERMANN.

Vl itnesses NICOLAI LENTZ, P. T. R. VAN HUIZEN. 

